EPA BASINS 2.0 Data
Overview | BASINS Data List | Getting BASINS Data | BASINS Modeling System and Tools | Documentation and Links
Overview
Better Assessment Science Integrating Point and Nonpoint Sources (BASINS) is a system that integrates GIS, national watershed data, and environmental assessment and modeling tools into one convenient package. The system was designed for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's water programs and their counterparts in states and pollution control agencies engaged in watershed- and water-quality-based assessment and integrated analysis of point and nonpoint sources. BASINS consists of a data component (spatial and tabular) and a software component. BASINS spatial data is packaged into river subbasin data sets in shapefile format and includes Reach 3-Alpha hydrography and 1:250,000 DEM data. Coverage is nationwide.
BASINS Data Availaability
BASINS Data is in geographic coordinates/decimal degrees (datum unknown) and includes:
1) Reach File, version 1 (RF1) and RF3 Alpha
Reach File one is small scale hydrography data (1:250,000 photoreduced to 1:500,000). Reach File 3 is an intermediate product in "a two step process involving the compilation of spatial and attribute data from a variety of different sources and the validation of the resulting file to ensure the integrity of the reach codes, hydrologic connectivity, and reach name assignments." The data is derived from RF1, RF2, GNIS II and 1988 USGS Digital Line Graph (DLG) hydrography data (1:100,000 scale). The final RF3 dat is not yet available. See the USEPA Reach Files page for more information.
2) 1:250,000 DEM Data
This data is in shapefile NOT Grid format. It is still possible, however, to use this data to create 3-D scenes in 3-D Analyst. A Grid format of 8 digit HUC watersheds is expected to be available with the next version of BASINS in early 2001.
3) BASINS Core Data
The Core data includes a wide range of point and nonpoint data layers. Consult the BASINS data and coverages list for details.
Getting BASINS Data
Downloading
The BASINS Data download page is at: http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/basins/b3webdwn.htm. The Reach File Version 3 (RF3) and DEM data are downloaded separately from the BASINS Core Data which includes all other data sets.
CD-ROMs
The BASINS 2.0 data is available on CD-ROM in DH Hill Library, location: Ref GIS Cabinet G1201 C3 B375 1999. The CD's are organized by EPA Region (NC in Region 4), with 2-5 CD's per Region. CD-ROM may be the preferable access format for those needing to obtain large quantities of data. Basins 3.0 data is not yet available in the library (as of 6/25/02).
BASINS Modeling System and Tools
A set of Tools and Utilities and a Modeling System are downloadable for use with the BASINS data. These applications are designed for watershed-based water quality assessment and analysis. See the Basins Download site.
Documentation and Links
- BASINS Home Page
- Data Download Page
- BASINS Documentation
- USEPA Reach Files page
- Tools and Utilities
- BASINS Listserv (for updates)
Go to the GIS Data List Page
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